Upper Iowa University and UGL Unicco (Unicco Service Company) announced that UGL Unicco is providing a wide range of facilities and real estate portfolio management services to UIU for its campus here, as well as regional and international locations. UGL Unicco joins a team of specialized consultants, engineers, architects, contractors and others that are collaborating to help UIU significantly improve its facilities.

UGL Unicco announced that Paul J. Asmar has joined the company as Vice President Operations and Facilities Management. In this newly created position, Mr. Asmar is responsible for setting strategy and developing new programs to provide comprehensive management operations and facilities services for large commercial accounts in the Northeast. He also will develop a facilities management operations team to deliver the managed account strategies and execute account plans for key clients. Mr. Asmar reports to Vice President, Operations, Northeast Region, John Correia. Mr. Asmar is an experienced facilities management executive who served most recently as Vice President, National Operations at EMCOR Facilities Services Inc. where he was responsible for managing and executing the FM operations of a portfolio of accounts for a wide range of clientele totaling over $160 million across 165 contracts. He set strategies, maintained and nurtured strategic customer relationships, managed operations and was responsible for the contract and financial aspects of account management. He is a member of facilities management organizations, including CoreNet, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA).

At a meeting of the Washburn University Board of Regents budget and finance committee meeting on Friday, May 22, the university will recommend expanding the current management services agreement with UGL Unicco for facilities services operations, including maintenance, custodial, grounds, energy management and capital project management. Recommendation of the expanded management agreement has become necessary due to reduced state funding, declining interest earnings and decreased enrollment, coupled with increasing costs for utilities and employee health insurance coverage. When finalized, the new agreement will save the university in excess of $500,000 annually. Current service levels will be maintained through skill mix adjustments, productivity enhancements, labor and workers' compensation savings, supply cost savings and best practice planned maintenance procedures. The university will negotiate a separation agreement with the union and provide a 'soft landing' for the university employees currently performing the services to be performed by UGL Unicco.